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I lean my forearms against the window. The sun’s higher now. Its light streams through the panes. And that’s when I feel her hand on my shoulder. Even the smallest, most tender touch sets me on edge. I didn’t expect ta want her, but now she’s found her way into my life, I don’t know how ta push her away.
I don’t want Clover to see the man I’ve become. And I can’t tell her the truth about why I was in her home town all those years ago. Guilt sits in my gut like a lead weight as I turn my head to glance at her from over my shoulder.
Those pretty eyes stare up at me as she watches me fer a reaction. I don’t know what she needs from me. She’s the first woman ta look at me as if I’m a feckin’ hero. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman in my bed who I actually didn’t mind wakin’ up to the next mornin’. Those I’ve been with in the past always knew I was not goin’ta give them more than one night.
“Will you please let me in?” she asks in a tone that makes my chest tighten.
Feckin’ hell. I can’t do this. There’s so much she doesn’t know about me. I realise it’s my own fault, but there isn’t a way ta tell her the truth. Because if I do, she’ll hate me forever. And perhaps that’s not what I want.
“You shoulda never come here,” I tell her. “It’s not a place fer a wee thing like yerself.”
“I am not a weak, helpless girl anymore,” she spits out.
I don’t blame her for being angry. I would be too if I were her. But then again, I don’t mean to talk down to her. She’s strong—I can see that. It’s so feckin’ clear to me. However, I’m more afraid of me hurtin’ her than I am of anyone else hurtin’ her.
“I didn’t think ye were, darlin’.” I shake my head as I regard her. “All I’m sayin’ is there are things in my world that could hurt ye, and I wouldn’t want that.”
Clover drops her hand, and I finally take in her beauty. She’s draped in only the sheet from the bed as she looks up at me.
“Don’t let your fears take over and eclipse what we’ve found, Sully. I’m not scared of what life throws at me anymore. I’m made of stronger stuff,” she tells me in that gentle accent that makes me smile.
“Then I best get ye into the shower,” I say, but deep down, I’m still worried about hurtin’ her.
It’s not goin’ta be a straightforward journey, and her past doesn’t afford much promise of happiness. She may be here fer an escape, but one thing I’ve learned about life, it will fuck ye when ye least expect it. And I’ve a feelin’ the man she’s been runnin’ from will eventually find her.
“Will you be joining me, Sully?”
She arches a brow at me, those feckin’ eyes callin’ to me. But I’ve work ta do at the club. Also, I need to have Tye look into her past. I’m goin’ta have to find that bastard who hurt her before he finds her.
“I would love ta, but I’ve got some work that needs doin’,” I tell her as I lean in to press my lips to hers. “Text me when ye’re at work. I need to know ye’re safe.”
“I will.” It’s clear she’s not happy. I can hear the excitement fadin’ from her voice, but right now, I have ta focus on the task at hand.
Leavin’ Clover is difficult, but as I swing my leg over my bike, I know it’s fer the best. At least, it’s what I think is best. I’ve not been in a relationship like this before, but now I am, I know I’m goin’ta have ta step up and be a man she can be proud of. I need to be her strength. Even though she may not need a hero, and I’m far from one, I have ta give her someone she can believe in.
That is, until she finds out the truth.
The thought makes me shudder as I pull out of the side street and make my way to the clubhouse. My mind is a feckin’ mess as I consider just what I’m goin’ta have ta do when it comes to Clover. I’m not worried about killin’ the fecker who hurt her, but it’s the idea of goin’ back ta see her family. She may have run, but she still needs to see them. She clearly knows all the implications of who she is—a princess of a biker club with links to far too many dangerous people.
When I met with Sean all those years ago, he asked me to find out about the mob. When I sent him the information about Bragan, he told me to keep clear of him. I didn’t understand why, but then, not long after, the news hit me about Sean being killed by the Cartel. I was never able to delve into the reasons Sean had, but I trusted him, so I obeyed his command.
